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[thedoctorandhis]

You woke to the sound of thunder and rain hammering against the roof of your apartment. The bustle of Auckland City streets below created a symphony of distant car horns and rushing footsteps. It had taken some getting used to, winter in July and hot summer days on Christmas, but after nearly six years in New Zealand, it felt like a second home.

This morning, you woke with a start, your heart pounding from yet another nightmare. Clocks ticking backward and a fire engulfing your mind's eye. All you could hear was your mother's voice telling you to come home. The memory clung to you, unsettling and vivid. These dreams had been recurring for weeks, leaving you with an uneasy feeling that something was terribly wrong.

Turning over, you looked at the clock. 6:30 AM and still pitch black outside. It was too early, yet the city was already alive with activity. Cars honked, and people rushed about, seemingly unfazed by the early hour. Did they even go to sleep last night?

You slipped out of bed, wincing as your toes touched the cold floor. It felt like ice against your skin, a stark contrast to the burning sensation in your nightmare. Shivering, you wrapped a blanket around yourself, trying to shake off the lingering unease.

You padded to the kitchen, the tiles cold underfoot, and began your morning routine. The kettle whistled as you prepared a cup of tea, hoping the warmth would chase away the chill in your bones. You glanced around your small apartment, its cozy furnishings a far cry from the warmth of home. Homesickness washed over you, a familiar ache.

As you sipped your tea, a wave of dizziness hit you. You gripped the counter for support, your vision swimming. The sensation passed quickly, but it left you unsettled. You had never felt quite right since the nightmares began. There was a tightness in your chest, a hint of heartburn that refused to go away. It was as if something inside you was trying to tell you something, but you couldn't quite grasp what.

You tried to brush it off and focused on getting ready for work. You dressed quickly, choosing comfortable clothes to combat the cold. The mirror reflected a tired face, shadows under your eyes hinting at the restless nights. With a sigh, you grabbed your bag and headed out the door.

Your job at the travel centre was a far cry from what you had envisioned for yourself. Day in and day out, you helped people plan their holidays and adventures. Sometimes you would get swept up in the fantasy, imagining yourself on the islands in Greece or climbing a mountain in Machu Picchu. But as you sat there listening to your regular customer, Mr. James, talking about his fifth vacation for the year, your mind wandered back to those dreams.

You felt the burning of the flames on your skin, heard the clock ticking, and just like she was right behind you, your mother's voice whispered in your ear, "Honey, come home." You replied automatically, "Coming, Mum."

Mr. James looked confused. "Excuse me?"

You snapped back to reality. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. James. I haven't had anything to eat today. Low blood sugar probably, don't ya just hate that?" you say Quickly changing the subject "I'm more than happy to organise this for you. I have all of your details. Give me a few days to put together an itinerary, and I'll get back to you."

you ushered Mr. James out the door, knowing you had no intention of getting him those travel documents. You had a few plans of your own to make.